Puzzle.



No. 628,ll7. Patented July 4, I899.

N. J. REYNOLDS.

PUZZLE.

(Application flied Sept. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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WIT/E5552 awn 70H;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON J. REYNOLDS, OF GLARKS SUMMIT, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUZZLE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,117, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed September 15,1898. Serial No. 691,016. (No m d l) To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, NELSON J. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Olarks Summit, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to puzzlessuch as are used for amusement and on which advertising matter may be printed or fanciful operations accomplished.

The invention consists of the novel construction and combination of parts herein set forth, and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top view showing the general plan of the device, and Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section taken on the line a: 'y of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the box or frame, constituting the inclosing portion of the device. It has a bottom or plane B with holes extending through it and communicating with the pocket 0, which is provided with a spout leading through the opening G. Superposed on the planeB is aseries of partitions D D, &c., and also a partition 0 of the same height and character. At different points between the partitions are openings or passage-ways Q, R, T, W, and Z, and encircled by portions of the partitions are depressions H, K, and L, L being about three times as capacious as H and K. In each of the depressions are small distinguishable spheres M, N, and P, the object of the puzzle being to so manipulate the plane by the hand that the spheres M N may be rolled through the passages and between the partitions to the depression L and left to occupy the positions indicated by dotted lines by the side of the sphere P, which latter is also of course readily shaken out of its position. The balls or spheres may represent any fanciful ideaas, for example, they may represent Cuba,

Porto Rico, and the Philippines-and they may be colored red, white, and blue, so that when lying together they may be imagined under the protection of the national colors of the United States. The partitions D, converging at F over the large hole J in the center of the plane, leave three pitfalls through which the balls may fall. The holesI IIare similar pitfalls arranged before the passageways Q, T, and Z. In passing into the depressions from the vicinity of the center of the plane the spheres are always required to pass between a pair of pitfalls E E, &c.

' The operation of the device is readily comprehended. By holding it in the hand itis so tilted and manipulated as to cause the balls or any one of them to seek the only path open to it in the direction of its destination, winding by the pitfalls, which are at nearly every turn. When the balls or any of them fall through the pitfalls thereon into the pocket 0 underneath the plane B, by tilting the device they will appear through the opening G neys. The path from the vicinity of G is necessarily through Q, R, T, W, and Z consecutively.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is I The herein-described puzzle consisting of the box A havingabottom B, distinguishable balls adapted to roll thereon, the said bottom B provided with series of inner smaller partitions extending radially ff d'm iiliemiddle-of a central opening or hole in said bottom, and each of said series of partitions providing a partial inclosure for one or more of said distinguishable balls, passage-ways extending through said partitions and pitfalls in proximity to said passage-ways whereby said balls mayescape through said bottom and a pocket underneath said bottom adapted to catch the balls and return them to the bottom of the box, as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON J. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

BELLE T. REPLOGLE, A. J. BRANDA.

and are ready for recommencing their jour- 

